EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need transparent labeling and while traditional names must only refer to items from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The proposal next requires review by EU member states, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
